The world’s tallest tropical trees have no trouble pumping water to their topmost branches, new research reveals. Conventional scientific theory suggests that as trees grow, it becomes harder to transport water from roots to leaves
“Trees contain lots of thin, hollow vessels and they suck water upwards by creating low pressure at the top,” said Professor Lucy Rowland, from the University of Exeter. (emphasis mine)
Come on, article writers, be kinder to the pedants!
I still don’t really understand how trees could possibly suck something up higher than air pressure can push it. Are they like using surface tension or something?
Headline: “…pumping water…”
Right in the goddamned article
Come on, article writers, be kinder to the pedants!
I still don’t really understand how trees could possibly suck something up higher than air pressure can push it. Are they like using surface tension or something?
Yes, surface tension causing capillary action with negative pressure at the top caused by evapotranspiration.
☝️ this one trees